In your effort to find a competent and experienced real estate agent, you’ll want to interview several candidates and ask the following questions:
- Is the Agent a Full-Time Realtor?
Make sure the agent works in the field for a reputable broker on a full-time basis. Otherwise, he or she may not be up to date on the fast-changing information and skills required for the job and to ultimately get you to the closing table on time. - Is the Agent Experienced?
Be sure the agent has been doing the type of work you will need him or her to do for at least a few years. For example, if you are looking for a modest single-family home in the suburbs, make sure the agent has not spent the last five years specializing in working with rentals or mansions. - Does the Agent Listen and Communicate Clearly?
The agent must be able to understand your priorities in purchasing a home and to tell you what you need to know about a home or homes. For instance, if you tell the agent repeatedly that you must have hard wood floors and a tree-lined neighborhood, and he or she persists in showing you linoleum floors on crowded streets, then you might need a new agent. - Is the Agent Willing to Negotiate on Your Behalf?
Buying a home requires negotiating skills. Successful negotiations can often save you tens of thousands of dollars. A good agent will remind you that if you decide you MUST have a certain house, you have already lost your negotiating power. If you low-ball a seller and they don’t respond to your offer, it’s time to walk from the deal. You need to be willing to walk away from a deal when the seller doesn’t respond. By returning with a second offer you show your cards to the seller and they then know you’ll pay full price. - Select an Agent with the Right Credentials – Ask: What Are Your Credentials?
Doctors and lawyers have specialties and so do real estate agents, many of whom get additional training in specific areas of expertise. The alphabet soup after an agent’s name can indicated that the agent has taken classes in a certain area of real estate sales. When working with buyers some of the designations include:
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate.
ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative): Completed additional education in representing buyers in transactions.
SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range.
Realtor vs Real Estate Agent: It’s important to know not all real estate agents are Realtors. If an agent has any of the above certifications or has an “R” for Realtor after their name they are a Realtor and typically in good standing with the local, state and national real estate associations. If the agent has no certifications and does not call themselves “Realtor”, they typically have not had the highest level of training and are not members of the National Association of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors or a local real estate board.
Posted in: FAQ for Buyers